Drake Maye Leads Patriots 28-24 Win vs Ravens, Lamar Jackson Out for Back Injury/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Drake Maye threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns as the New England Patriots erased an 11-point deficit to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 28-24. The comeback win secured a playoff berth for New England and further jeopardized Baltimore’s postseason hopes. Lamar Jackson left the game with a back injury.
Patriots-Ravens Game Quick Looks
- New England rallies from 11 points down in the fourth quarter.
- Patriots clinch AFC playoff berth with 28-24 win in Baltimore.
- Drake Maye throws for a career-high 380 yards, two touchdowns.
- Maye goes 12-of-14 in the final quarter with 139 yards.
- Rhamondre Stevenson scores game-winning touchdown on 21-yard run.
- Ravens lose Lamar Jackson to a back injury in second quarter.
- Baltimore’s Zay Flowers fumbles on final drive.
- Patriots improve to 7-0 on the road under Mike Vrabel.
- Ravens fall to 7-8 and lose control of playoff destiny.
- Jackson’s season in doubt pending further evaluation of back injury.
Deep Look
Drake Maye Leads Patriots to Stunning Comeback Win Over Ravens to Clinch Playoff Spot
BALTIMORE — The New England Patriots are heading back to the postseason — and they got there in dramatic fashion. Led by a red-hot Drake Maye and a resilient defense, the Patriots stormed back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 on Sunday night, clinching a playoff berth in the process.
Maye, the second-year quarterback making his case for MVP, delivered a career-best performance when his team needed it most, throwing for 380 yards and two touchdowns, including a fourth-quarter masterpiece in which he completed 12 of 14 passes for 139 yards.
“We’re going to try to win the division. That’s our focus,” said first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. “All the credit goes to the players. When we win, it’s because of them.”
Ravens Collapse in Crucial Fourth Quarter
Baltimore led 24-13 early in the final period after Tyler Huntley, filling in for the injured Lamar Jackson, helped extend the lead with a 2-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry. But the Ravens unraveled from there — the latest in a string of painful late-game collapses.
Maye launched the comeback with a 37-yard touchdown strike to Kyle Williams, then connected with Rhamondre Stevenson for a two-point conversion to pull within three with just over nine minutes to play.
After a key defensive stand, Maye marched the Patriots 89 yards, highlighted by clutch throws and capped by Stevenson’s 21-yard touchdown run with 2:07 remaining. Baltimore’s final drive ended with Zay Flowers fumbling, sealing the Ravens’ fate.
Lamar Jackson Injured Again
Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson exited late in the second quarter after taking a knee to the back from Patriots safety Craig Woodson. Jackson handed the ball off before slowly heading to the sideline and eventually into the locker room.
“He couldn’t go,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “If he could have, he would have.”
Jackson is expected to undergo additional testing, including a CT scan, to determine the severity of the injury. It’s the latest setback in a season marked by physical ailments. Jackson has already missed time this year with hamstring, knee, and ankle issues.
His latest injury casts doubt on his availability for next week’s crucial road game against Green Bay. The Ravens now trail the AFC North-leading Steelers by two games with just two remaining.
Ravens Now On the Outside Looking In
With the loss, Baltimore drops to 7-8 and needs help to keep their playoff hopes alive. They must win their final two games — against Green Bay and Pittsburgh — and hope the Steelers falter, including a loss to lowly Cleveland in Week 17.
Mistakes plagued the Ravens throughout the night, including two lost fumbles, seven penalties, and poor execution in crunch time. The loss was their third at home in prime time this season and dropped their home record to 3-6, the worst in franchise history.
“Six losses at home? That’s terrible,” said Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton. “It’s been a theme for the past couple of years — penalties, turnovers, injuries. It’s frustrating. It’s redundant.”
Patriots’ Road Dominance, Maye’s MVP Rise
For the Patriots, the victory marked their seventh straight road win under Vrabel and a defining moment in Drake Maye’s young career. After last week’s tough loss to Buffalo, Maye said the team made a point to avoid another late-game letdown.
“It was kind of the elephant in the room,” Maye admitted. “Last week we had a chance to win with a game-winning drive. This week, we weren’t going to let it happen again.”
The Patriots now sit atop the AFC East, holding a one-game lead over Buffalo. With Maye’s poise and Vrabel’s leadership, New England has officially re-entered the AFC playoff conversation as a serious contender.
Injury Report
Patriots:
- RB Tre’Veyon Henderson (head injury, did not return)
- DT Joshua Farmer (hamstring)
- CB Charles Woods (ankle)
- WR DeMario Douglas (hamstring)
- DL Khyiris Tonga (foot)
Ravens:
- QB Lamar Jackson (back)
- G Andrew Vorhees (foot)
What’s Next
Patriots (10-5): Visit the New York Jets next Sunday as they aim to lock down the division title.
Ravens (7-8): Travel to Green Bay for a Saturday night showdown that could make or break their fading playoff hopes.
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